How To Tame a Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons have one of the most docile demeanors of just about any lizard that people may keep as pets. It is this behavior that makes them so attractive to would-be pet owners.

Although, bearded dragons have a great attitude, it can take some time and patience when attempting to tame one.

In some rare cases, bearded dragons can cop a nasty disposition. This is usually occurs when a bearded dragon has not been handled very much, or after being mistreated and abused. Learn how to tame a bearded dragon so you can develop a better relationship with your pet.

Taming a Baby Bearded Dragon

The best thing you can do to tame a baby bearded dragon is to begin interacting with it soon after you bring it home.

You don’t want to start handling it right off the bat, because it needs to have a little time to adjust to the new surroundings.

Wait about two or three weeks after you bring the baby bearded dragon home before you start the interactions. Start off by lightly petting the baby on the top of its head and down the back.

Slowly move your hand into the enclosure and watch how it reacts. If the baby bearded dragon jumps, retreats, or cowers down, you may need to give it a little more time. These reactions are generally a sign of fear. It’s ok, it will get accustom to you, if you continue a little each day.

Once the baby is comfortable with your petting, you can begin to pick it up and handle it. Slowly place your hand around it’s mid-section and lightly grasping the baby bearded dragon. Once you have a firm, yet gentle grasp on the bearded dragon, begin lifting it slowly from the habitat.

It is important to keep a fairly consistent routine when taming your baby bearded dragon. A little interaction each day will go a long way towards building a great long-term relationship.

If you interact with your baby bearded dragon frequently, then stop for several months, you may find that you will need to start all over at the first step again. The key is be somewhat consistent.

Taming an Adult Bearded Dragon

If you acquire a bearded dragon that is already at the adult stage taming can be a bit more tricky. The ease of taming the adult will greatly depend on how it was treated before you got it.

Adult bearded dragons that were never handled previously, or mistreated may be resistant to any petting or handling at first.

Again, it will take some determination and patience on your part.

Once the adult bearded dragon has acclimated to the new surroundings, slowly lower your hand into the habitat. Keep a close eye on how it reacts. If it puffs its beard and hisses, then it feels threatened.

Try slowly rubbing its back and the tail very gently. Again, observe how it reacts. You may need some quick reflexes if it attempts to snap or bite at you.

Continue this petting a little every day. Within a month, or so, the adult should begin getting comfortable with you, and you can pick it up from the habitat.

Pet the bearded dragon lightly on the head, then move your hand gently around its mid-section. The first time you pick it up, it may give you a funny look. It’s OK, the adult is just wondering what you are up to.

Gently begin lifting him out of the enclosure with one hand, and gently stroking his head and back with the other hand. If the bearded dragon is fully grown, you may need to use both hands to hold him. You definitely do not want to drop it!

What To Remember

The best thing to remember is to be steady and consistent when taming a bearded dragon. It’s the steady interaction that will help your bearded dragon to gain your trust. Like any relationship, it takes time, patience, and a little work. The relationship you build with your bearded dragon is no different.

If yours keeps running and jumping away from you whenever you reach your hand in to pick him/her up, it means that the bearded dragon is not yet ready to be held. Don’t give up though. Eventually, the dragon will approach you after it’s developed a sense of trust with you. Some bearded dragons take longer than others to get used to their owners—it depends on its behavior, its personality, and its sense of acceptance and trust. These things differ from dragon to dragon. Baby bearded dragons are very particular on entrusting anyone at first, especially if they’re brand new to your home. Some bearded dragons take a little longer to adapt to their new surroundings than others do. Just keep being diligent and patient with it and don’t show anger or discomfort. The wrong signals could produce intimidation, which may greatly delay any development of trust between you both. After enough time working with the lizard, eventually, the bearded dragon will allow you to pick it up and interact with it. Don’t give up until then though. Continue to show interest in taking care of its needs. Sometimes talking softly to it through its terrarium also helps keeping it in a calm state of mind Work with your dragon and nurture it as much as possible. Make sure it understands that you intend to do no harm to the bearded dragon. You want to ensure your new pet is not in danger and is in a caring home. Once it’s had a chance to adapt to a daily schedule of feeding, pettings, and attempts at holding or picking it up, it will get used to you. The key to it is to not give up and don’t get upset with him/her.

Sounds like you have one very overactive bearded dragon. The best thing you can do is to continue showing calm, yet strategic approaches. Try not to show signs of anger, intimidation, or fear. You have to basically ensure your pet that you pose no threat or harm to him/her and through daily feedings, it should get the notion that you’re there to help take care of its needs. It may take some time for his aggressiveness to go away, but just try not to be too impatient with your pet. Give him/her every benefit of the situation. If he hisses or tries to bite at you, try to react as calmly as possible, as the wrong signals can alert the bearded dragon as an act of intimidation. After a week or so, your pet should calm down enough to where it won’t hiss at you when you come around to feed him/her. It may also help if you stayed in the same room as the pet and interacted as much as you can with it through the glass of the terrarium. Keep a watchful eye on the lizard, and even though it sounds ridiculous, talking to him/her will also get your pet used to you quicker, but remember to always speak in a calm and gentle voice. The more time you put into working with your pet, the quicker you’ll be able to start forming that bond that will keep you both together.

I got my beardie from people who wasn’t very good peolpe and he was abused and I took him I tried to pet hime evry day and he was great he didnt have n problem with me now he is angry and tries to bite me all the time it’s rare that i pick him up and can walk arround with out him trying to bit me or run away what do I do

I know this will sound strange, but perhaps your trying to handle him too much?

Like any living creature, beardies like to be given their own space aswell.
For example, if your mum keeps invading your room without knocking all the time, your going to get annoyed about it. Its the same with beardies.

Its worth just giving me the answers to a couple of questions so i can help you.

What gender is the beardie?

Is he/she still eating okay?

Is he/she shedding?

What are the temps in the tank?

Have you added any new ornaments/plants to the tank?

Is he/she still pooping like normal?

If you’d like to email me at [email protected] with the answers, i might be able to suggest something to you.

I’ve had beardies for a while now and after much experience with all types of temprements, i’ve learnt that its NEVER a good idea to pet a new/nervous dragon on the top of its head until they’re comfortable enough to sleep on you at night, or eat from your hand (although not every dragon will do this).

The reason for this is that they have a sensor, or “third eye”, on top of their head, somewhere in the centre of their skull. You can see it, it looks like a small black speck.

This is there so they can sense predators, like birds, in the wild. So approaching from above when going to handle a nervous beardie can result in not only getting bit, but stressing them out. The same goes for petting them there aswell.

Its always a good idea to start from the base of the skull, and work your way down the spine. Otherwise under their chin, or one of my beardies Spyro enjoys being almost scratched on the back, like you’d scratch your dog. However every bearded dragon is different, and its ultimately up to the owner to find out what they enjoy.

If you found this helpful, then please don’t hesitate to email me on: [email protected], if you have any other questions.

I cant promise i’ll have all the answers, but I will be able to point you in the right direction.

I’ve had my dragon for about a week now and he is showing no signs of improvement. When I try to pet him he runs. I’m doing just as u said coming in nice and slow. I hand feed him his superworms all the time but still nothing.

We are working in getting our first Dragon but I feel like it’s kind of like a dog or any intelligent animal. If you don’t give them time and space to understand you’re not a threat, they’re going to keep being careful and cautious. One week is not enough time to fully trust you especially considering you are so much larger than he is. Give it time and patience.

i haven’t had my bearded dragon for too long and shes my first one but i would like to say that i have figured out something that really lets them be comfortable with you very fast. i put her inside my shirt, on my chest and she falls asleep and everything. it helped her know who i am and make her comfortable with me more, i also try to take her outside and feel the real sun. i don’t put her down or anything, i just let her rest on my sholder or hand. i feel like it is only fair to let her feel the real things in life instead of staying inside, i also try to introduce her to different smells and light so that she isn’t scared of things too much. i obviously don’t do it all the time because that will just over welm her and i don’t want to handle her too much. i am slowly letting her run on my bed or on the floor if im near but i don’t let her go too far away from me. its only fair that she gets to experience things of the real world instead of in a cage or inside. you have to remember that they are real animals and also want real thing

Hi, I have had my beardy for about 4 weeks. When I first got her she was about 2 months old. She was fine about me picking her up, up until she started to shed. I knew not to message with her then. I waited until she was finished. After she was through, I tried picking her up…she started to hiss and running away. Just resent she bit me. I talk to her in a calm voice and I don’t get angry. I have no idea what to do?

Hi, my name is Tristan and I really want to be able to hold my beardie; they are into their adult stage of life and they let me pet them often but I’m hesitant to try and slide my hand beneath it. He/She sometimes will puff his/her beard and it will turn black when I try to pet its head. I have had my beardie for probably close to two years now. I’m not sure how long my girlfriend owned it before, maybe 8 months. But I’m not exactly sure what I should do..

I have about a middle age dragon and i got him like 3 to 4 mouths ago iv been loving on him and time to time I pick him up when I do this some times he lets me but then once he is in my hand he tries to run and other times when I try to hold him he just runs so I leave him alone. But to day I was just going to love on him but right when my hand entered the terariam he bit me. Now he’s never hissed or bit me before I don’t know if he can hiss or just don’t won’t to but he just doesn’t hiss. But any way how can I make a closer bond with my dragon.